Dhaka, Dec 22 (V7N) — Ahead of the 13th National Parliamentary Election, nomination papers were collected on Sunday by leaders of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) for various constituencies, including those for party Chairperson Khaleda Zia and Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman.

Khaleda Zia will contest from Feni-1 (Poroshuram, Fulgazi, and Chhagalnaiya) and Bogura-7 (Gabtali-Shajahanpur), while Tarique Rahman is slated to run from Bogura-6 (Sadar). BNP National Executive Committee member and former Poroshuram Mayor Abu Taleb collected Zia’s nomination papers from the Feni Returning Officer’s office, expressing optimism that she will complete the submission process with central and district leaders by December 29.

In Bogura, former MP Helaluzzaman Talukdar collected Khaleda Zia’s nomination papers from the city’s Gohail Road Election Office, noting that voters were eagerly awaiting to cast their votes in her favor. Tarique Rahman’s nomination form was obtained by Rezaul Karim Badsha from the District Commissioner’s office, with completion pending his voter details, in accordance with election commission rules confirmed by District Senior Election Officer Fazlul Karim.

In Mirzapur (Tangail-7), four BNP leaders, including former district committee member Firoz Haidar Khan, his brother Dipu Haidar Khan, former MP and child welfare secretary Abul Kalam Azad Siddiqui, and cultural affairs co-secretary Saidur Rahman Said Sohorab, collected nomination forms.

In Shyamnagar (Satkhira-4), two BNP leaders secured nomination papers for the constituency, collecting them individually after initial confusion over who would represent the party’s chosen candidate.

In Chattogram, five party leaders collected nomination forms despite not receiving official party endorsement. These included Aslam Chowdhury (Chattogram-4, Sitakunda), SM Fazlul Haq (Chattogram-5, Hathazari), Barrister Shakila Farzana (daughter of former Whip Syed Wahidul Alam), former city BNP secretary Abul Hashem (Chattogram-9, Kotwali), and central executive member Mohammad Shamsul Alam.

The nominations mark the formal start of BNP’s preparations for the 13th parliamentary election, with party officials expressing confidence in widespread support from voters across the contested constituencies.

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